Boone’s Bar-B-Que opens next week in Gloucester

Boone’s Bar-B-Que at Sutton’s will open next Thursday, Sept. 1, in the building that housed Sutton’s Restaurant near Gloucester Court House for many years.

Owners Joe and Judy Boone of Williamsburg, said they plan to bring the barbecue they have been serving at King’s Creek Plantation to Gloucester. In addition to a full line of BBQ, they plan to keep many of the homemade dishes that Sutton’s was once known for, including crab cakes, a country-style breakfast and pies.

Joe Boone said they will open for breakfast and lunch, with daily specials planned. They plan to begin serving a full dinner menu in mid-October. A grand opening celebration will be held this fall.

"The secret to the barbecue is in the (dry) rub," Boone said. The meat cooks (preferably with pecan, hickory or cherry wood as mesquite is so hard to get here) for 12-14 hours and they use a 21-foot trailer with a smoker that applies indirect heat to the meats. They will offer pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, pulled chicken BBQ sandwiches and beef brisket sandwiches, along with chicken leg quarter dinners, pulled pork or chicken dinners, and whole slabs of pork ribs.

Judy Boone said they handle many catering jobs, offering whole beef brisket, pork tenderloins, rack of lamb and BBQ sandwiches. They recently provided food for a major fundraising event at Fairfield Plantation in Gloucester.

The Boones are both active in the kitchen: he cooks and she makes pies. They employ seven staff members, including several who had previously worked at Sutton’s Restaurant.

The restaurant seats about 55 diners, and they have set picnic tables for a small outdoor dining area adjacent to the restaurant.